From the ACL Taping Program on October 21, 2007:
From traveling with their preacher father as children to touring with Bob Dylan last year, the Followill boys have come a long way and taken their unique brand of Southern indie rock to an international level. Tonight, the Nashville-based band consisting of three brothers and their cousin who make “alarmingly sophisticated pop” (New York Magazine) make their first appearance on AUSTIN CITY LIMITS .
The band’s full-length debut 2003’s Youth & Young Manhood captured “the sound of growing up and busting out without sparing the rough edges”(Onion AV Club) and led critics to compare Kings of Leon to Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and The Rolling Stones. The band continued their exploration of raw southern rock with their sophomore release. On 2005’s Aha Shake Heartbreak “the melodies are sharper, the scissor kicks are higher and the grooves are groovier” (E Online).
For their third release, Kings of Leon attempted to relax the musical rules they’d established for themselves. “We took the limitations off of ourselves,” said guitarist Caleb Followill. “We went into the studio with an open mind, thinking let's do whatever it takes to get these songs to the next level.”
Earlier this year, Kings of Leon released
Because Of The Times, “an epic wide-screen movie of a CD” (
Entertainment Weekly) which many critics consider to be their best release to date.
Alternative Press wrote “They’ve honed their sound perfectly, hitting every mark they set and making
Because Of The Times kick so much ass that it demands you respect them as new rock royalty.”
From the ACL Taping Program on November 12, 2007:
Roky Erickson is a near-mythical figure in Texas music history. From his pioneering 1960s band the 13th Floor Elevators to his solo work over the last few decades to the 2005 documentary about his life, Erickson’s songwriting has influenced musicians from all genres.
His1960s band the 13th Floor Elevators was the first act to use the term “psychedelic” in relation to music with its 1966 album
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, featuring “Fire Engine” and the hit single “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” His work was influential enough on punk rockers and garage revivalists that he was able to resurrect his career in the ’70s with horror-themed rock and jangly pop. During the ’90s, his music was honored with a tribute album
Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye, featuring famous fans like R.E.M. and ZZ Top and a box set
I Have Always Been Here Before: The Roky Erickson Anthology.
His well-publicized personal turmoil sometimes overshadows his contribution to rock ‘n’ roll. Rolling Stone wrote his legendary music is “deeply intertwined with a history of drugs, schizophrenia and institutionalization” and “in all his music of the past 30 years, Roky Erickson dances with the terrors of the abyss and leads the whole night through.”
Having re-entered the public eye thanks to the acclaimed documentary “You’re Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson,” the reinvigorated singer/songwriter has returned to the stage. Erickson’s performance at the 2005 AUSTIN CITY LIMITS Festival marked his first full concert appearance in almost two decades. He has spent the last few years making music festival appearances around the globe.
